In the words of Henry David Thoreau: “What’s the use of a good horse if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?” For people who share Thoreau’s anxiety about living on a more tolerable planet, sustainability points the way forward. At Rio Salado College, the Associate in Arts (AA) Emphasis in Sustainability and Environmental Studies program offers a grounding in this important practice. From understanding the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, social, and economic) to learning about the myriad ways in which we shape our environment, Rio’s sustainability program can introduce you to a wider, greener world.
“Our ability to sustain nearly 9.8 billion people by 2050 in light of current consumption rates, impacted ecosystems and climate changes is one of the greatest challenges faced by humans,” said Jeff Rousch, Rio Salado adjunct faculty. “We must train the next generation of scientists, economists and politicians in sustainable leadership, urban design, transportation, energy and economics for the human race to not just survive on a planet of limited resources, but to thrive.”
What You’ll Learn
Life on planet Earth is governed by a complex, interconnected network of relationships between mankind and wildlife, flora and fauna, water and soil, sunlight and rain, technology and natural processes. Learning about sustainability will give you a greater awareness of all these interactions and how we impact the environment. You’ll learn about systems thinking, hone your communication skills, and gain a deeper understanding of sustainable practices, policies, and environmental ethics.
What Can I Do With a Sustainability Degree?
If you have a passion for the natural world, a background in sustainability can open quite a few different doors for you. From hydrology to urban planning, teaching to forestry, sustainability provides you with a skill set that combines interpersonal soft skills with technical ones that could help you excel in these fields and many others that includes:
- Geoscientist
- Conservation scientist
- Forester
- Agricultural manager
- Environmental specialist
- Urban planner
- Sustainability compliance officer
- Hydrogeologist
- Ecologist
- Range manager
- Landscape architect
- Air quality engineer
- Energy manager
- Sustainability engineer
- Zoologist
What Does a Future in Sustainability Look Like?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many environmentally-focused careers like hydrologists, geoscientists, and foresters show healthy rates of job growth over the next eight years. With increasingly unpredictable weather patterns happening with more regularity, the demand for qualified professionals who know how to fortify and rebuild communities and habitats will be significant. If you’re not an outdoors type, don’t worry: there are many roles you can take on that are urban-based and don’t require you to have a green thumb or a knack with animals.
Save Time and Money
Are you thinking of pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree at a four-year institution? Getting an associate degree at Rio Salado can be a great way to get a jump start on this academic journey. Rio’s credits are transferable and can be applied to Arizona’s state colleges, along with many other universities across the U.S. A two-year degree can satisfy the general education requirements for a four-year program while providing you with new skills and an accomplishment to include on your resume. Not only can you hit the ground running to get your degree you can do it at a much, much, much lower tuition rate than what you’d pay at a four-year school.
Our sustainability program aligns with the degree requirements for our transfer partners at ASU, NAU, and U of A for their Sustainability, Environmental Sciences, and Natural Resources programs.
Learn More
Interested in learning more about our sustainability program? Check out our program page and complete the request for information at the bottom of the page.
Article by Austin Brietta